Proportion of population practising open defecation in Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG)

Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG): Proportion of population practising open defecation was 15.46 in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
15.46
Change on year
down 3.6%
Rank
11th
of 61 groups
All-time high
31.23
in 2000
All-time low
15.46
in 2024
Years of data
25
2000–2024

Proportion of population practising open defecation in Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG), 2000–2024

01020302000201220242000: 31.22001: 30.62002: 29.92003: 29.22004: 28.62005: 27.92006: 27.22007: 26.62008: 25.92009: 25.22010: 24.52011: 24.42012: 23.72013: 232014: 22.42015: 21.72016: 212017: 20.12018: 19.52019: 18.82020: 18.22021: 17.52022: 16.92023: 162024: 15.5

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG) recorded 15.46 for proportion of population practising open defecation in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.6% on the previous year and down 30.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of population practising open defecation in Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG) peaked at 31.23 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 15.46, in 2024.

That places Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG) 11th out of 61 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.

Proportion of population practising open defecation in Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG), year by year

Annual values for Proportion of population practising open defecation (Sanitation) in Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG), 2000 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2000 31.23
2001 30.57 -2.1%
2002 29.9 -2.2%
2003 29.23 -2.2%
2004 28.57 -2.3%
2005 27.9 -2.4%
2006 27.22 -2.4%
2007 26.57 -2.4%
2008 25.89 -2.6%
2009 25.2 -2.7%
2010 24.51 -2.7%
2011 24.37 -0.6%
2012 23.7 -2.7%
2013 23.04 -2.8%
2014 22.36 -3.0%
2015 21.67 -3.1%
2016 20.98 -3.2%
2017 20.14 -4.0%
2018 19.49 -3.2%
2019 18.83 -3.4%
2020 18.17 -3.5%
2021 17.51 -3.7%
2022 16.9 -3.4%
2023 16.03 -5.2%
2024 15.46 -3.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 28.23 25.2 31.23 10
2010s 21.91 18.83 24.51 10
2020s 16.81 15.46 18.17 5

Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG)

  1. 8 Liberia 33.92 compare
  2. 9 Sao Tome and Principe 33.35 compare
  3. 10 Kiribati 32.36 compare
  4. 11 Togo 32.19 compare
  5. 12 Burkina Faso 29.87 compare
  6. 13 Madagascar 27.01 compare
  7. 14 Angola 25.72 compare

See the full ranking of 292 places →

More population data for Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG)

All data for Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG) →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of population practising open defecation in Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG)?
Proportion of population practising open defecation in Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG) was 15.46 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest proportion of population practising open defecation recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG)?
The highest recorded value was 31.23 in 2000.
What is the lowest proportion of population practising open defecation recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG)?
The lowest recorded value was 15.46 in 2024.
How does Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG) rank for proportion of population practising open defecation?
Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG) ranks 11th out of 61 groups with data for 2024.
Is proportion of population practising open defecation rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG)?
Over the last ten years it is down 30.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG) data come from?
The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Proportion of population practising open defecation (Sanitation). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Proportion of population practising open defecation in Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG). Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 25 August 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-population-practising-open-defecation-sanitation/sub-saharan-africa-unsdg/

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About this data

Indicator
Proportion of population practising open defecation (Sanitation)
Source
UNICEF
Licence
UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
292 places, 6,980 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed